The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-09-08
STEERAGE EXPERIENCE.

STEERAGE EXPERIENCE.
HARpsHIps or fHE SEEKERS. FOR
- HOMES in A NEW LAND.
An Emigrant Gives Interesting Details
Of His Life Aboard ship-Disregard Of
Health and Decency-Incidents OF the
Passage.
A gentleman from the northern part Of
Missouri, who was in Omaha two days of
lastsweek, Is "a living eXemplifcation of
the advantages which the land of the free
and the home Of the brave possesses for
men of all nationalities. A few years ago
this gentleman landed in this country, one
Of number Of tired and wretched immi-
grants. Today he Is an associate justice
of the county court Of n prosperous Mis-
souri, county, in which he has made con-
siderable money as well as many friends.
'The scene on the pier previous to the
departure Of Il. vessel is m exciting one, !"
said he. ssIt is crowded with emigrants
all in, u confused and excited state, re-
minding one Of asfrightened flock Of sheep.
The majority are perhaps English, Irish
and German, though nearly all nations
are represented. Each em1gratt has a
contract ticket which, in consideration of
the CURRENT rate of fare, stipulates for his
transportation to New York, together
With; ii full supply=M wholesome pro.
9isionss cooked andserved byitsstewards.
The passenger issrequired to provide him
self with bedding and cooking utensils.
-h-mye time the weekly allowance of food
for adults was prescribed by the govern
ment and printed on the contract ticket.
As I remember it. it was II quarts OF
water, 1-2 pounds of, bread, Il pound OF
wheaton -four, 1 1-2 pounds OF oat meal,
rice and peas, Q pounds Of potatoes, il
pounds of beef, pound of pork, 2 ounces
of tea, pound of sugar, and salt, pepper,
mustard, vinegar, etc. The steerage stew
ards berth the emigrants, and they are
then marshaled on deck under the scru-
tiny of o government inspector who ex.
amines them for infectious diseases. ~
"What is the general treatment these
people receive while at sea'" asked the
reporter.
/ "Wen, replied the Missourian, 'neither
officers nor men seem to consider them
worthy Of respect Occasionally you will
find some ships officers who will treat
them In humane, tolerating manner,
but as rule; they are treated more like q
drove Of cattle. No difference Is made
between the better or worse class, but all
are treated alike. There is no classifica-
tion; the single women and men are sep.
arated, but Poles, Germans, English,
French, Italians and people Of all coun'
tries are thrown together. A cleanly,
thrifty woman is berthed next to filthy
one, and tho same with neat appearing,
hardworking men, who are compelled to
mingle with the dirtiest of vagabonds.
"The steerage is usually cold, dark and
foul smelling. It extends nearly the en-.
tire length of the vessel under the saloon
deck and is cut up into gloomy apart
ments. In each one Of these are four
side. The lower tier is two feet from the
deck and the upper tier is three feet from
the roof. The steerage is about ten feet
in height; in each tier are probably six
berths of eighteen inches wide, and -si1
feet long. Mhd mpde of. boards These
berths generally emit an unpleasant smell
of chlorate Of lime or carbolic acid.
"Officious, stewards, are moving about
indulging In coarse joke here and q
growl at some. unfortunate there. After
the supper, and but few partake of the
first one at sea, the tables are raised to
the roof and the steerage center space Is
clear. Some lamps ore then lighted, but
promptly extinguished at o'clock. Three
meals are served every day, and in quail.
ity and quantity they are substantial
For breakfast at s o'clock emigrants sit
down to do justice to oatmeal porndge
and rolasses, hot bread, coffee and salt
fish. For dinner at 10 perhaps soup OF
broth, boiled meats, potatoes and bread.
For supper at 9, tea and bread and but
ter, with molasses. However substantial
the food may be, the manner in which ii
is served Is uncleanly. Beef and soup
are placed on the table in rusty looking
tins and then scramble takes place,
dirty fingers often being used instead Of
forks. On pleasant summer day the
emigrants have quite a merry time on
deck. Some of the Italians bring out
their harps and violins, and concert
takes place. Aside from this these people
amuse themselves at cards, checkers and
other games, and after a time they be.
come partially accustomed to their filthy
prison; the majority make the best of 1t
and enjoy themselves to degree"
elbow is the emigrant cared for;during
storm2" queried the reporter. s--asfss Z 7tas:
"That's just where he reaches the
height Of his misery" answered the ex.
emigrant. ~ snail never forget the suf-
ferings we all endured during O severe
storm on my passage. When the storm
came up the matches were battened down,
the ports screwed in their places and the
companionways closed. During all. the
time the sea is on deck perhaps 1000 peo-
pie were confined steerage, ,son: this
occasion, for nearly three days. The at
mosphere becamesclose and in twenty.
four hours was loaded with impurities;
meals were drregularly served and sthe
food barely cooked. Il shall never forget
the exhibition ofgterror ION the part OF
some Of the emigrants; and their terror
became contagious as:: their shrieks grew
louder and their prayerasmore frequent.
After the storm had subsided, and the
steerage was open, the sailors would not
go in to cleanup ,for six hours, and then
they had to eSsupplied with an extra al
lowance of gfog. Iremember on this trip
an incident which asailor told me was not
an unusual one. One-of the Italians in
the steerage had not washed himself since
he had been on board, and after the storm
he refused to leave his bunk, but clung to
It in all its filth, and with his Characters;
tic incidence On the captains order he
was brought on board and thoroughly
cleansed with o hose, after which he re
turned, apparently feeling no better for
his clean up, but / am certain the balance
of us rested, easier.
"When The steamer arrives at quaran.
tine a. towboat conveys the doctor on
board and he inspects the Immigrants. Il
there are no cases Of infectious disease the
steamer proceeds to the city, and shortly
another steamboat appears with the board,
ing officer Of the emigration commission
ers. This official ascertains the number
of passengers on board and listens to COM
plants. Ill -
"Soon the trees of the Battery park
come in sight, the steamers pulse ceases,
several barges are towed alongside, and
the immigrants with their baggage are
transferred to these. The same excite
ment Is here manifest as at the outset of
the voyage. The poor. immigrants are
browbcaten and driven about like the
same old sheep, and as soon us the barges
ure loaded a.ili;;ll steamer takes them in
tow and tl;cy i;w landed with their load
of hT1mnn f",.i.rit ut Castle Garden ~